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Donny Lalonde vs. Sugar Ray Leonard

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For All the Gold
DateNovember 7, 1988
VenueCaesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
Title(s) on the lineWBC light heavyweight and inaugural super middleweight titles
Tale of the tape
Boxer Donny Lalonde Ray Leonard
Nickname The Golden Boy Sugar
Hometown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Palmer Park, Maryland, U.S.
Purse $5,000,000 $15,000,000
Pre-fight record 31–2 (26 KO) 34–1 (24 KO)
Age 28 years, 7 months 32 years, 5 months
Height 6 ft 1+3⁄4 in (187 cm) 5 ft 10+1⁄2 in (179 cm)
Weight 167 lb (76 kg) 165 lb (75 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition WBC
Light Heavyweight Champion		 3-division world champion
Result
Leonard wins via 9th-round TKO

Donny Lalonde vs. Sugar Ray Leonard, billed as For All the Gold, was a professional boxing match contested on November 7, 1988, for Don Lalonde's WBC light heavyweight title and the inaugural WBC super middleweight title.[1]

Background

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In August 1988, a fight between reigning WBC light heavyweight champion Donny Lalonde and 3-division champion "Sugar" Ray Leonard was agreed upon. The fight was a rarity in boxing as two titles from different divisions would be on the line; Lalonde's WBC light heavyweight title and the newly created WBC super middleweight title. As such, the two fighters would fight at the 168-pound super middleweight limit.[2] Leonard was ending his third retirement, which he had entered the previous year after defeating Marvin Hagler by split decision.[3] Leonard and Lalonde agreed to split a $20 million purse with Leonard getting $15 million and Lalonde earning a career-high $5 million. Rather than have an outside promoter, Leonard and Lalonde's teams agreed to co-promote the fight in a joint partnership with the Coors Brewing Company sponsoring the bout. However, there was some controversy prior to the fight when Lalonde refused to wear gear bearing the Coors logo nor participate in promotion for the company. Coors had guaranteed an additional $1 million in each fighters purse and Leonard's lawyer and adviser Mike Trainer threatened to withhold the Coors money from Lalonde, stating "Their money is going to go to a charity of Donny's choice. He's not getting it." He also called the joint-partnership a "nightmare" due in part to problems with Lalonde's manager Dave Wolf.[4]

Prior to the fight, Leonard and his long-time trainer Angelo Dundee, whom had been with Leonard his entire professional career, parted ways. Dundee had taken exception to only receiving $150,000 from the $12 million purse Leonard received for his previous fight against Hagler. Dundee demanded a contract to train Leonard for the Lalonde fight, but Mike Trainer refused, resulting in the split.[5]

The fight

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Lalonde controlled the early portion of the fight as a sluggish Leonard had trouble establishing any offense from rounds one through four as Lalonde used his height and reach advantage. In round four Lalonde scored a knockdown after hitting Leonard with a right cross to the head. Leonard was able to continue, but Lalonde quickly went on the attack, throwing punches wildly and opening a cut near Leonard's left eye, though he was able to survive the round. From round five on, Leonard bounced back offensively and the two fighters traded power punches and combinations throughout. In round nine, Lalonde started aggressively but Leonard backed Lalonde into the ropes and landed a flurry of punches ending with a left hook that sent Lalonde down. A clearly dazed Lalonde was able to get back up and continue, but Leonard quickly sent him down again with two right hands followed by a left. Lalonde was unable to get up and Leonard was declared the winner by technical knock out at 2:30 of round nine.[6]

Aftermath

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After the fight, Leonard vacated the light heavyweight title, but kept the super middleweight belt.

Fight card

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Confirmed bouts:[7]

Weight Class Weight vs. Method Round Notes
Super Middleweight 168 lb Ray Leonard def. Donny LaLonde (c) TKO 9/12 Note 1
Light welterweight 140 lb Roger Mayweather (c) def. Vinny Pazienza UD 12/12 Note 2
Super Flyweight 115 lb Gilberto Román (c) def. Sugar Baby Rojas UD 12/12 Note 3
Light heavyweight 175 lb Kevin Casimier def Arthur Hall MD 8/8
Heavyweight 200+ lb Ike Padilla def. Anthony Hayes TKO 3/4

^Note 1 For WBC Light Heavyweight and Super Middleweight titles
^Note 2 For WBC Light Welterweight title
^Note 3 For WBC Super Flyweight title

Broadcasting

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Country Broadcaster
 Mexico Televisa
 Philippines GMA Network
 United Kingdom ITV
 United States HBO

References

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  1. ^ "Donny Lalonde vs. Sugar Ray Leonard". boxrec.com. BoxRec. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  2. ^ Sugar Ray Leonard and light heavyweight champion Don Lalonde..., UPI article, 1988-08-03 Retrieved on 2020-02-17
  3. ^ Sugar Ray Leonard retires -- again, UPI article, 1988-08-03 Retrieved on 2020-02-17
  4. ^ Leonard-Lalonde Partnership Became Short Lived Affair, South Florida Sun-Sentinel article, 1988-11-07 Retrieved on 2020-02-17
  5. ^ Ray Leonard and Angelo Dundee, who have been together..., UPI article, 1988-10-19 Retrieved on 2020-02-19
  6. ^ How Sweet It Was, Sports Illustrated article, 1988-11-21 Retrieved on 2020-02-19
  7. ^ "BoxRec - event".
Preceded by Donny Lalonde's bouts
7 November 1987 		Succeeded by
vs. Darryl Fromm
Preceded by Sugar Ray Leonard's bouts
7 November 1987 		Succeeded by
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